Lauren Card Live

Obstacles- “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.” – Niccolo Machiavelli

I read an article about the obstacles leaders face and I agreed with one of the biggest obstacles for an entrepreneur… Delegation.

For three years I was the chairman for a non-profit golf tournament where 288 golfers not only had a day of fun the sun, but also enjoyed a full evening of food, libations, and a huge silent/live auction with spouses, friends and the like. In those 3 years we raised just shy of 500K for school children ranging in age from K – 12 for 4 public schools in Orange County. I’m very proud of that accomplishment but I must confess, had I not learned to delegate we wouldn’t have had the impact we did.

Delegation is a key ingredient in leadership and is one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Delegation is necessary for your success as a leader and is equally important to the development of those that chose to follow you. When you fail to delegate a task that you could and should, you find yourself in a situation that does effectively utilize the skills that you bring as a leader. You are too busy doing other things. In order to develop into an accomplished leader, you must delegate.

Remember that:

• Each person is different. There may be individuals in your organization that would jump at the opportunity to do the tasks that you are reluctant to delegate.

• Everyone in your organization benefits when you delegate responsibilities that fall outside your core competencies. Thoughtful delegation will allow others in your organization to shine and allow yourself the opportunity to focus on your areas of strength. Often times it is both natural and necessary for others to contribute. We had so many unbelievable talents on our committee, I was in constant awe at what was produced as a team.

Delegation is a learned skill… what can you do to master this skill?

Evaluate yourself: What are your strengths and weaknesses? In what areas can you operate that will make the most impact?

Evaluate others: Take time to get to know them and find out what they enjoy doing the most. What are their strengths?
What are the areas in which they could compliment you and through delegation would allow you to excel in leadership?
How can you effectively utilize them? What can I delegate that will enable some else to show their strength?

My first suggestion is to create a time journal for yourself. This journal will provide a clearer picture of where you are spending your time. Once you have the journal, ask yourself these questions…

1. What am I doing that does not really need to be done?
2. What am I doing that could be done by someone else?
3. What am I doing that could be done more efficiently?
4. What do I do that wastes time?

Second, delegation is a responsibility. As a leader it is your role to develop and empower others.

Delegation:
1. Helps other grow
2. Establishes accountability & responsibility
3. Generates greater results
4. Creates pride and confidence for yourself and those that follow you

Next, challenge your followers:
1. People rise to the challenge; let them
2. Be clear in communication. Delegate tasks in writing whenever possible and always include a deadline date
3. Give objectives, not procedures
4. Explain the relative importance of the task(s)

Finally, stay the course. Certainly, there are times when it might appear easier and less time consuming to do something yourself; however, over the long term, taking the time to delegate, train or enable someone else is one of the most beneficial investments you can make for yourself and others. Ultimately, the strength of a leader is empowering others to obtain greater results.

See you tomorrow!

L.

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